“What’s that Dad?” Fern asked of her father-in-law.
“Did any of you ever hear from Christopher again?”
“Nope,” Randall said. “He did come to visit Wanda in the hospital before he left. Sat with her for hours. Telling her that he was sorry he had to leave, but his father was getting transferred. He was in the military. Said he’d write, but that only lasted a couple of months after he left. No word after that. When we asked Wanda, she said he didn’t take his ‘in sickness andhealth’ vows seriously.” Everyone chuckled at that, and after they served the pie, they moved onto other topics.
Chapter 2
Christopher Evans looked up and smiled when his fiancée, Amber, walked into the kitchen. He immediately jumped to his feet and poured her a cup of coffee.
“Thanks.” She smiled at him. “You’re up early.”
“Yeah, I’ve been up since five. I’ve got the morning off, but I have to be in the office by noon. I thought we’d head to the courthouse and find out where and what we have to do for the marriage license. I’ve lined up appointments next week for the florist, caterer, and cake testing.” He pulled his pad of paper to him, and Amber saw several lists.
“You and your lists.” She laughed as she finished her coffee.
“I like organization, less chaos then. That is why I’m so good at my job. Without a list, you’re swinging in the wind, and that’s not a feeling I abide by.”
“How much time do I have to get ready?”
“I’d like to be at the courthouse when they open at nine. We can go to brunch afterward, but then I have to get to the office.”
“Okay, I’ll go shower and get ready. I’m supposed to meet Mother this afternoon. You’ll call me if you’ll be working late?”
“Like always.” He kissed her forehead and watched as she left the kitchen. He couldn’t be happier. He had a great career, which he loved, was engaged to a wonderful woman. If he didn’t feel the deep, gut-wrenching love for her that he’d heard others speak of, he could live with what he felt for her. Deep affectionwas enough. He didn’t know if he would ever feel what his father felt for his mother, but this was as close as he was going to get. He would take it.
The biggest thing about his affection for Amber was that she got him, she understood his long hours at the office, and that he might have to call and cancel at the last minute. She never pitched a fit, never complained about his job, or his long hours, or his penchant for making lists. She always told him it was cute the way he organized not only himself, but her. It was rare not finding someone who complained about everything.
“Ready?” he asked an hour later when Amber walked back into the room, all done up to the nines. She wore a silk dress, her hair and makeup were perfect, and she wore four-inch heels.
“Ready.” She smiled as he put his lists in his briefcase and made sure everything was in perfect order before they left. He hated anything out of place. He was borderline OCD, or so he told himself, others would say he was full-on OCD. As long as he was organized and could plan for everything, he was fine. If not, then it led to chaos, and that he couldn’t tolerate.
By the time they fought rush hour traffic, it was well after ten when they reached the courthouse, and he took a deep breath and held Amber’s hand as they walked in. Fifteen minutes later they stood outside the correct door and took a deep breath. Christopher opened the door and was surprised that only two people were ahead of them in line.
“May I help you?” the woman behind the glass asked.
“We’d like to apply for a marriage license,” Christopher said in his firm voice.
“Each of you need to fill out this form, then stand back in line. I’ll also need your driver’s license and social security cards.” She passed out the forms, and they went over to the chairs and filled them out. Once completed they were able to get right back in the front of the line. The woman did Amber’s information first, and everything went through with flying colors.
Christopher handed over his information and watched as the woman’s hands flew over the keys and then saw her facial expression change from indifferent to frowning.
“Do you have a copy of your divorce papers?”
“What? I’m not married, never have been.” Christopher felt his palms begin to sweat, he felt the telltale sign of his world being thrown into chaos, and it took everything for him not to panic. After wiping them on his pants, he drew in a deep breath, held it, then let it out slowly before he demanded, “What gives you the idea I’m married?”
“It says so right here,” the woman said as she pointed to her computer screen. “You are Christopher Burke Evans?”
“I am. Can I have a copy of that?”
“It’ll be five dollars.”
“What’s going on, Chris?” Amber asked, and he cringed by the shortened version of his name. That was the only thing that was wrong in his relationship with Amber. He hated any shortened versions of his given name.
“I don’t know,” he said as he passed over five dollars, got a receipt then finally a copy of his alleged marriage.
“Oh my god, I was five-years-old when this happened, it was over twenty years ago. It wasn’t legal, I was only freaking five.”
“Sorry, everything here says it’s legal. We can’t issue you a new marriage license until you’re either divorced or get an annulment. But to do that, I can tell you now that you’re going to have to find your wife and have her sign it.”
